'Samu' survives wind scare

For a change, Euskaltel were not caught out when the wind made an appearance in Wednesday's 17th stage of the Vuelta a España.

While Domenico Pozzovivo, Thibaut Pinot and a host of sprinters were left reeling their inattentiveness, team leader Samuel Sánchez made the cut and came home safe and sound inside the first group. Pablo Urtasun tried his hand in the sprint finish, but a surprise move by Bauke Mollema caught everyone off guard and made sure Team Belkin escaped with the stage win.

Saying Euskaltel weren't caught out at all isn't correct though. Igor Antón and Mikel Nieve once again failed to place themselves well, coming in several minutes back.

Heading into a trio of demanding stages, Sánchez is 9th overall, Antón 15th and Nieve 28th.

Results:

• (1, Bauke Mollema (Belkin), 4:44:28)
• 13, Pablo Urtasun, s.t.
• 16, Egoi Martínez, s.t.
• 20, Samuel Sánchez, s.t.
• 28, Gorka Verdugo, s.t.
• 45, Igor Antón, 1:31
• 84, Juan José Oroz, s.t.
• 115, Mikel Landa, 5:39
• 116, Jorge Azanza, s.t.
• 117, Mikel Nieve, s.t.

Photo: Orbea